The cancer was estrogen-fed, Dixon said, caused by hormone replacement therapy. Knowing what triggered her cancer also might have been a blessing, she said.

"Knowing where it came from, I stopped the hormone therapy."

Dixon was able to avoid intravenous chemotherapy and be treated with radiation and a lumpectomy. She also took a hormone-blocking drug for four years.

She spent 35 consecutive days, except weekends, driving herself to Savannah and home for the radiation. The treatment trips did more than get Dixon closer to being well, they gave her same valuable spiritual time.

"I spent it praying," she said. "Not for myself, but thanking God it wasn't worse."

Waiting in the doctor's office for her treatments, Dixon had seen first-hand so many other cancer patients in much worse shape.

"The worst was seeing children so very sick," she said.

Dixon said while she had a victory over this cancer, she knows she must be vigilant in case it should return.

"You must have mammograms," Dixon stressed.

Dixon said having no insurance coverage shouldn't be used to avoid this vital, life-saving test.

"There are places you can go to get a mammogram," she said. "You can call United Way's 2-1-1 for help."

Cancer may have scared Dixon, and caused more than a few tears, but, in the end, early detection was the winner.

"I feel like I beat cancer," she said with a smile. "I am a cancer survivor."

ON THE WEBGo to savannahnow.com/pink to:-- Hear more on how Dixon - and other area women - triumphed over breast cancer.-- View more photos from Thursday's Paint the Town Pink news conference. -- Find educational resources, related medical topics and support information.